A/N: I would really like to thank you for the reviews. They are really helpful and I encourage you to keep them coming. Also, I can promise that Blaise will be appearing more and more frequently as the story progresses.
Chapter 10: Discord
The next day was very tiring and fast paced. There was hardly a chance to rest between all of the activities we were expected to do, but my annoyance was somehow diminished by the expectance of one of the last classes of the day.
Out of all four of us, I was the only to have a class in what was so aptly named "The Dark Arts." I knew that my sister was not cut out for this practice, for there was not a shred of darkness in her entire being, Claudia would most likely be unable to produce such magic as well, despite mastering its theory. That only left Arielle. Despite her happy-go-lucky-annoying-to-hell appearance, Arielle harboured great darkness within herself. There were days that it seemed that her darkness was of the same kind as mine. But that was only an illusion. She would be able to produce magic that could be characterised as dark, but there was no way for her to reach my level of proficiency. Not that she would try, since most of her time was spent in that smelly potions room of hers, experimenting with this or that ingredient. I swear, one of these days she's going to blow herself up. What a pity.
This way of thinking left only me.
I was a proficient user of the Dark Arts as it was, and I looked forward to the opportunity to expand my knowledge for I , unlike Potty boy, was no idealist, I had no illusions. The other side would use the Dark Arts and our side would have to be able to respond by using them as well. This was war, not a duel, the same rules did not apply.
My annoyance with the schedule that I was presented with was only enhanced by the fact that both of my friends and my sister had been told what their "mission" was. Salazar, despite his advice embellished pep talk from the day before, failed to offer such information. I was never fond of being left in the dark, but this one time I was willing to let it slide. The man seemed to have been shaken up as much as I was by our talk yesterday, and the painful expression I had glimpsed on his face for a second was enough to persuade me to leave him to his thoughts. I could understand that sort of pain, and that was the main reason that I did not sneer at the man as he walked into the empty room at the beginning of our Dark Arts lesson.
The room that I found myself waiting in was curiously barren. There was nothing in there, not a desk, not a chair, not a closet or a shelf. Nothing save for a few candles strewn across the room, levitated slightly below the ceiling and floating in such a position that they were casting ominous shadows across the wide room.
"Good afternoon Rosalind" spoke he, walking through the doors of the room and waving his wand simultaneously, making the aforementioned doors disappear.
"Good afternoon sir" I greeted, drawing my wand in response as well.
"First of all, I require to be told what your past education in the area of the dark arts consists of, for I am sure that you have been provided with one." Asked he, and I noticed that he was rather interested in the subject, his eyes gleaming in the dark room.
"I was taught by my grandfather from the moment I was able to handle a simple disarming spell to my fourth year. From then on I have been self-educated, mostly doing research into the practices and experimenting with a couple of spells." I spoke, rather anxious to start the practical part of the course.
"What was the reason for the ending of your education with your grandfather?" asked he, seemingly more intrigued with my story than with the actual idea of allowing me to practice the said Dark Arts.
"Knowledge." I spoke and as he raised an eyebrow I explained. "There was nothing more my grandfather could teach me as I reached my fourth year."
"Your most powerful dark spell…" spoke the man, making a slight pause and narrowing his eyes at me, seemingly enjoying himself immensely. "What is it?"
"The Thousand knives curse sir." I responded, once again finding no real interest in the conversation.
There was a slight glimmer of surprise in his eyes, but it was gone in a second, leaving me with no chance to discern the source of his surprise. Was it that he found that this spell was very advanced or not sufficiently advanced?
"Are you capable of using that spell in a duel situation?" asked he and as I nodded in affirmation he waved his wand summoning a life-sized doll. It was a male doll by the looks of it, and it had a death eater mask on its face, along with a dark set of robes. It was such a detailed representation that the doll was equipped with a wand which it had raised at me.
I took a step forward, making a small deliberate circle with my wand, pronouncing clearly "Transfodio Millia Culter!"
What appeared to be a ray of brilliant white light flew from my wand, hitting the doll that stood opposite me and tearing it into a million little pieces, creating a small cloud of scrap where there once stood a death-eater doll. But I knew better. This was not, in fact, a single ray of brilliant white light, instead this was a stream of one thousand rays precisely, each sharp, each deadly.
"Impressive" spoke the man as I turned to face him, not really believing what I had just heard. To be praised by this man was not something I would have expected to happen on my first lesson.
"You seem surprised." He noted, smirking at me.
"I am" I responded honestly, seeing no point in hiding the sentiment "I did not expect for this spell to impress you."
"But it did" smirked he. "It seems you do not quite understand the level of proficiency in the Dark Arts you already possess. You have greatly exceeded my expectations, well done."
It took all of my safe control not to gape at the man. I knew that I was good, but this level of praise was ridiculous.
"I had intended to teach you another spell today, but I do not believe that it would be appropriate. I wonder…." Spoke he, his smirk broadening "have you heard of the spell named Fiendfyre?"
I was surprised that he would mention that spell, for it was immensely difficult and I never would have thought to attempt it on my own, so it took me a second longer than absolutely necessary to react.
"Yes sir." I responded, my anticipation rising. If I could master this spell, I would be on Bella's level.
"I shall attempt to teach it to you today. You of course realise that this is an immensely difficult spell to master, so I urge you not to be dissuaded by the lack of effect your first several lessons may have." Spoke he and as I nodded in acceptance he motioned for me to get out of the way.
"First, you shall observe what a Fiendfyre spell looks like if cast by an experienced caster." At that, he moved forward suddenly, violently and made a stabbing notion through the air calling out:" Bellua peruro!"
From the tip of his wand emerged a single jet of flame, forming a giant snake that roared its flaming head towards the ceiling, hissing and spewing fire.
I now realised that, were this to be a normal classroom, everything around us would have been consumed by flame. But this room must have been bewitched by Slytherin himself, for it withstood the inferno he had released.
"Finite inferno!" called he, and the fire suddenly expanded and just as I thought that it would reach me, it became no more than a cloud of smoke.
"The first stage" spoke he, obviously satisfied that he had managed to impress me " Is creating a whiff of fire. The second is creating a jet of flame. Once created, this jet of flame will need to be controlled, hence stage three and as you master this aspect, you will be able to control the shape and number of the flames you produce at will. Now, you shall attempt to do it as well. Have you remembered the incantation?"
"Yes sir." I responded and took a deep breath, mimicking the movement I had seen him preform and calling "Bellua peruro!"
To my surprise, and definitely to the surprise of my mentor, a single whiff of fire emerged from my wand, but I lost control of it in my surprise, and the fire was soon gone, disappearing without a trace.
"Most impressive Rosalind" spoke the man, smirking at me, apparently very surprised but also very satisfied with my performance "most impressive. Try again."
I nodded in agreement and spoke again "Bellua peruro!". This time the fire appeared again, but it lasted for a second or two longer.
However, this was the most I had been able to achieve in that lesson, but I had been persuaded that this was indeed "extraordinarily promising".
As the lesson came to an end, and I prepared to leave, putting on my cardigan, which I had discarded due to the heat of the spell I had been practicing, my mentor seemed less and less joyous and more and more sombre. As if he had remembered something very unpleasant, and most of all, imminent.
"May I have a word Rosalind?" asked he, and the eyes that were once gleaming with pride and hope now seemed dark, worried and anxious.
"Of course sir." I spoke, as cold sweat suddenly appeared at the nape of my neck. This could not bode for well.
"It was not my intention to tell you this so soon, but you have proven to be more than capable of handling serious and most grievous maters. You exceeded my expectations in every field and I fear that this information will serve as no adequate reward. But it is imperative, vital that you know the answer to the question you posed the day before, a more precise answer than what you had been given."
I stayed silent through the narrative, listening intently with dread clawing at the very pit of my stomach.
"You asked, child" spoke Salazar, his eyes boring into mine "what the cost for the salvation of the wizarding world was, and now I answer you. The cost is the Slytherin House."
In that moment, I felt like all the air I once had in my lungs was gone. I must have heard him wrong. I must have understood his message wrong. It wasn't possible. I didn't want it to be possible.
"I- I do not understand sir" I spoke, my shock still showing.
"But you do Rosalind, but you do." Spoke he, and I saw that he was very saddened with the news he was giving me. "The price for the salvation of the Wizarding world is the destruction of the Slytherin House."
"But if we win" I hissed, anger replacing shock in my heart.
"They will be caught in the crossfire" spoke the man, interrupting what I was going to say. "Three fourths of your house will die while the rest will be reduced to a state worse than death. If you lose"
"We cannot." I interrupted, anger clear in my words. "But I won't allow it. I refuse to allow it."
"And how will you stop it?" asked, he raising an eyebrow at me.
I hissed in anger, feeling so very powerless. I could not allow this. This could not be. This would not be.
"They are children!" I hissed under my breath "Sure there are some who are purely sadistic, but most of them are only misguided children, not truly evil at heart! They do not deserve to be sacrificed! I will not see them die!"
"You are their "Queen", are you not?" asked the man, tilting his head in observance.
"I am" I stated, pride clear in my words.
"This is your mission Queen," spoke he and I realised that he was aiming at this from the very start. "Save your house, you know.."
"Any means necessary." I nodded, smirking as well. I was still very angry, but now I knew that there was hope. If I could find a way, my housemates had a chance to survive.
And as I lay awake in the middle of the night that very same night, I had come to two conclusions.
First of all, if there were really to be a crossfire, Daphne and Astoria would not be caught in the middle of it. They, at the very least, would be the ones to survive.
Secondly, if I wanted to save my house, the influence of a Queen would not be enough. I would need the support of the Prince.
This was my biggest problem. Draco Malfoy was a member of an old pureblood family, as old as mine almost, and their prejudice was just as old. It would be very hard, if not impossible to change him. For that, no matter how many nights I spent thinking, I could find but one solution. I would need to ask for help from Blaise Zabini, a fact that made me want to give up the war many a time during our stay in the trunk.
The two months that we were doomed to spend in that blasted trunk, blasted, for I had not come to love it any more than I had upon first entering its premise, seemed to be gone in a flash. That is rather easy to understand if one takes into consideration the torturous schedule that we were expected to abide.
Torturous as it may have been, it was working. I could now run at least fifteen circles around the Quidditch pitch without wavering in my steps, my motoric skills in general were much improved.
I had also progressed in my learning, and this was perhaps most visible in three of my subjects; The Dark Arts Class, Defence Against the Dark Arts and of course Charms.
Claudia and I were able to surpass Arielle in the field of Charms, and were currently sharing the position of the best student of Rowena Ravenclaw in this subject, something I was immensely proud of. As for Defence Against the Dark Arts, the main area of progress was in aiming, where I was capable of taking down no less than five dummies at once, controlling my hexes with a pin point precision. There weren't all that many new hexes that we were taught, nor has my magic power progressed notably, but somehow or the other, I was unmatched amongst my friends or my sister. The closest to me was Arielle, but she still could not win.
Despite our initial dislike, mutual may I add, Godric Gryffindor turned out to be a teacher worth mentioning, and lived up to his reputation of being the greatest dueller of all times.
Lastly, it seemed that my potential in the area of Dark Arts was virtually limitless. By the second lesson, I was able to produce a jet of flame using Fiendfyre, by the third I could control it, by the fourth I could shape it to my will, and by the fifth summoning and controlling a spell that usually took years to master was as easy as charming a candle to levitate.
Salazar seemed more than pleased with my progress, and kept coming up with more and more complicated spells for me to master. And that I did, with no significant setbacks. However, there was one person who hated this class, and who kept insisting that it was necessary for me to quit it. My sister seemed afraid, to the point of panic, that I was going to lose my way, that I was going to lose control. At that time I would not, for the life of me, admit to her or anyone else that I secretly feared the same.
I was average in all other classes; having Clo best me in them despite our age gap, save for these three classes. Arielle was unparalleled in the Potions class, and even Clo could not best her, and this sentiment was true for my sister as well, in the classes of Herbiology and Care of Magical Creatures.
However, there was one class that I was horrendously bad at, sucked at it if you will. In the two months of my training in the Weapons class, I had made no progress what so ever, still finding it difficult to hold a sword, or any other such weapon properly, let alone use it in a duel. Which was exactly what we were expected to do.
I was currently sitting in the corner of the room, watching as Melody and Arielle duelled, combining magic with clashing swords, and I couldn't help but cringe every time the awful metal sound of two metal sticks combining was heard through the room. Both of them had identical grins on their faces, enjoying the battle to the fullest.
The three of them had grown to love the class, and as their love grew, so did my hate. I could not understand how it would be possible to combine that stupid metal stick with a weapon as elegant as a wand into a successful attack for the life of me. It was barbaric and completely unnecessary.
My sister had won the duel in the end, being very proficient in using a sword, and helped a grinning Arielle to her feet. An ominous foreboding feeling settled in my stomach and I felt as if I was going to be physically ill as my name was called out next, in pair with that of my sister.
It took all my self-control to stand up and take the sword offered to me. My disgust was such that I had to will my fingers to curl around the metal surface. I knew, as did Gryffindor, that I would be only using hexes as a means of attacking, and I noticed a hint of fear in the eyes of my sister.
"Don't worry" I spoke as I passed her, and every person present in that room knew what it meant. I would keep the hexes to their barest minimum, to avoid causing harm to my sister.
It turned out that there was no need for that reassurance for Melody was, to my immense surprise and frustration, dominating the duel. My hexes were quickly dispelled by her Protego Totalum charm, and the moment I tried to attack seriously, she'd swing that stupid stick and I'd be forced to retreat, as I had just barely managed to block two of her attacks, leaving me with a bruised arm. I was also in a predicament as I could not use the more harmless hexes such as the binding hex since I was in such close contact with my opponent, and using the hex would mean risking the hex seriously backfiring.
And as my hands tangled in a rather poor attempt of a counterattack, I suffered a direct hit of the Impedimenta jinx that sent me flying to the floor, both my wand and that stupid stick flying out of my hands.
Anger overwhelmed me and I stretched out my hand summoning my wand to me wandlessly and wordlessly. I had become able to do that a mere week ago, but I had never found myself in a need to use it before that moment.
My sister walked up to me and offered me her hand, saying: "Here, that was good."
I had no patience for her kindness at that moment and I swatted her hand away, getting up on my feet and hissing out: "This is outrageous!"
"Now, now don't be a poor loser lassie!" laughed Gryffindor, but he was the only one to laugh, being the only who did not understand just how angry, and just how dangerous I was at that moment.
"Calm down Linds;" tried Arielle, seeing that the time for joking was long gone, but I interrupted her as she was about to say more.
"I don't think I will calm down Arielle, Accio sword!" I called, levitating the foul thing as it answered my summoning charm and sending it flying to the oaf, stopping it right before him.
"This is the very last time I will pick up that foul, loathsome, disgusting stick!" I hissed out at him, and his smile disappeared from his face.
He snatched the sword from mid-air, and marched forward, his strides taking up more than three of those I could make, appearing in front of me in a second.
"Take it" spoke he, shoving the blasted thing in my hand.
I stepped back, hissing at him "Now that I think about it, this is the last time that I will be attending this course at all!"
"You will be here this time next weekend." Snapped the man, but Arielle, Clo and Melody appeared by my side before I could say anything in return.
"I think it's best you let her leave Godric" spoke Arielle, trying to come to my aid. Too bad I was in no need of aid.
"I don't need to be allowed to leave Arielle! In fact, I will be doing so right this instant, seeing as I am a witch not a mercenary!"
At this I stalked pas the group, waving my wand, as a witch should, and opening the doors, slamming them closed behind me as I walked out of that disgusting class, never to return.
However, I could not avoid hearing my sister's words, which only irked me more "Please take no offence Sir, it's just the way she is."
Just the way I was? As if there was something wrong with what I had said. A witch does not wield a sword in a fight, nor does a mercenary wield a wand. How that oaf could not get this simple concept through that thick skull of his was beyond me.
I had no way of knowing that the next day would be even worse.
Cold wind wiped my cheek and I scrunched up my nose at a lock of my hair, that had been for a while flying across my face and tickling the base of my nose, resisting the urge to sneeze. I had missed all my remaining classes from yesterday in the trunk, deciding that it would be best to avoid all social engagements while my rage still held such a firm hold of my head. The departure was tense, and I refused to look at the idiotic oaf once as greetings were being made. I had promised the three of them that I would meet them for dinner, and promptly turned away from them, allowing my legs to find their way to the astronomy tower.
I now sat at the very edge of the tall structure, allowing my legs to dangle off its edge and my mind to wonder where ever it wished.
It was certainly October, I concluded as I huddled in my blazer. I hated fall with all my heart, and October was the worst month of them all. The closer it came to the end, the closer it came to The Day, the worse my mood would get.
I was slightly irritable and slightly pissed off now, but if this happened the next time we entered that trunk , I was sure that I'd try to hex the stupid oaf.
I always liked heights, and as my gaze fell on the Hogwarts ground, that was now bathed in the last rays of sunshine of the day, I basked in my solitude.
I would, as I did every year, spend my October days up here, where no one would bother me and where I could face the weather alone.
It would be white roses this year, I concluded, deciding to write to my grandmother. I could not be there on the 23rd of October, but she could leave the flowers in my stead. I'd visit my family tomb over the Christmas Holidays, alone.
This year, on the 23rd of October, it will be thirteen years since my mother and father died. This year, it will be thirteen years too long that Bellatrix Lestrange lived.
Soft footsteps from behind me snapped me out of my thoughts and I subtly shifted my weight so that I did not lose my footing as I sharply turned around, aiming my wand at the figure, ready to hex.
"I thought I'd find you here Linda" spoke Daphne, and I lowered my wand immediately as I recognised her greenish blue eyes. She walked over to me, her steps reminding me of those of my grandmother, which pleased me greatly and served as a tremendous compliment to my younger cousin.
"It's October" she responded to my questioning glance and I nodded in understanding, slightly surprised that she knew me so well.
"I have been looking for you yesterday as well, but I could not find you." Spoke she, sitting down and allowing her legs to dangle off the edge as well.
"I was…. Otherwise engaged." I spoke, trying to avoid thinking about the dreadful trunk and focusing instead on the meaning of her words.
"Has something happened?" I asked, looking to my side and watching as Daphne focused on the scenery bellow us, her black hair billowing around her as a curtain.
"No…." spoke she, and I could hear a note of worry to her words. "I just wanted to have a word with you, I thought you'd be the most understanding."
She turned to me at that, giving me a small, hesitant smile.
"But it seems to me you have something troubling you as well…. Perhaps I should not bother you?" asked she, and I knew she was kind enough to leave now, as to not bother me with her worries as well. She reminded me of Melody sometimes.
"No Daph" I spoke, using a nickname from our childhood, and she smiled at it. I wouldn't have used it if someone else had been with us, but this was only Daph. I trusted her. "By all means, talk, I'll welcome the distraction."
I gave her a small smile, most of my irritation gone to the wind around us. There was something so familiar in heights, so calming.
She gave me a brilliant smile, but turned her head, lost in thought.
"It's so quiet, isn't it…. " spoke she, raising a hand to her hair and running it through the midnight black strands "it feels so calm. But he's out there…. Isn't he?"
"Yes" I responded, joining her and observing the scenery although the sun had set already. "He's there, in the dark, in the shadows. Building an army."
This last part seemed to shake her, and she focused her large eyes on me, fear evident in them.
"I heard whispers… I didn't want to believe them."
"Can you do it?" asked she, after a moment of silence spent in observance of my features. "You promised me the other day that you'd protect Astoria and me. Can you do it?"
"No." I spoke and she seemed surprised "Not yet. But soon… sooner than you think, I will be able to."
She seemed relieved, but slightly confused as well.
"You're not doing something dangerous, are you Linda?" asked she, a note of uncertainty to her words.
I didn't answer her, I couldn't voice it.
I was no fool, I knew the chance of success was low, especially that of me surviving the war that was sure to come. I would not make a promise I could not fulfil to her.
She was silent for a moment more, before standing up and giving me a small smile.
"I believe in you Linda" spoke she, and I followed her movements, slightly surprised. "I know that you can do it. Please, just, be careful yes? I wouldn't want you to come to harm."
"I promise Daph." I spoke, lying through my teeth. This one time, she was not similar to Melody, Melody would have known that I was lying.
She beamed at me, making her way to the stairs before she turned around, as if another thought had come to her.
"Oh, and there is a rumour about your friend, Claudia." Spoke she and I raised an eyebrow at that, curious. "They say she healed Potter's hand after he suffered a dark curse. I thought you should know."
Anger once more blossomed in my chest. That idiot, how could she be so reckless? She'd definitely get a piece of my mind on this matter.
"Thank you Daphne" I spoke and she left with one more, brilliant smile. I was left once more angry, and as time for dinner drew ever closer I made my way slowly to the great hall, sensing another argument.
"That was thick" I spoke, taking a seat next to the young Ravenclaw who was currently the one hosting our group for the evening meal.
Claudia looked up, slightly surprised, followed by Arielle and Melody who mimicked her movement, their interest being peaked by the few words I had spoken.
"It seems that your little act of mercy towards Potty has become very famous" I sneered, waving my wand and having a jug of pumpkin juice move across the table and having it spill some of its content into a goblet placed directly in front of me. "Which was very thick, quite disappointing for a Ravenclaw".
I could see that my words had touched a nerve, but Arielle was the one responding.
"Come on Linds, we have only just learnt we had these powers, she couldn't have known that this would happen!" spoke she, her anger rising with every word, but still not quite reaching the level I had.
"Nevertheless, it was very imprudent, and it could have cost us a great deal if the student body weren't this thick." I snapped at her, but the person to respond was Claudia, surprising me greatly.
"You know, I don't understand why you and Snape do not get along" said she, bringing my sister at the very edge of her seat and having Arielle drop her goblet and me narrow my eyes at her. "You could be twins!"
"Come again?" I spoke, in a tone that clearly said: be very careful of how you proceed.
"If you only look for the worse in people" spoke the foolish girl, her voice continuously rising in her state of anger "well, that's exactly you deserve! "I was mad beyond words at that point, and if the stupid girl said one more word, I swear I'll hex her foolish mouth off!
"Calm down sis, Clo!" spoke my sister, her voice pleading. "Claudia didn't mean it sis!" spoke she, turning to me, trying to calm me.
"Yes I did!" exclaimed the girl, and I was on my feet at that moment as was Arielle, most likely there to stop me. As if she had a chance in Merlin's most potent hex to stop me!
"And go ahead, hex me for stating the truth! That's all you ever do, hex and threaten! Your own house fears you for the love of Merlin, you have no friends, save for us and your cousins, you're the thick one Linds!" said she, and several things happened at once.
I had drawn my wand, pressing it in Claudia's neck in that second, preventing her from moving, or drawing her wand. Arielle was quick as well, pulling out her wand and aiming it at me, while my sister jumped to her feet, her nervousness showing as she kept glancing around the room.
I was seconds away from cursing the girl, and I noted with satisfaction that there was genuine fear in her eyes. She was right to be afraid, I really was moments away from cursing her.
"Lower your wand Linds" called Arielle, threat clear in her voice.
"Siding with your little friend, even though you know she is in the wrong here? How perfectly noble of you Arielle!" I hissed, pressing my wand closer to Clo's skin. "Shall we see which one of us is quicker? Would I be able to curse her before you can utter one word? " I turned to her at that, hissing "Lower your wand Arielle or I swear I will curse her!"
"You know I can't do that Rosalind" spoke Arielle and I noticed just how angry she was.
"Calm down sis, please" spoke Melody, but stayed where she was, most likely choosing not to provoke me further. "Come on, lower your wand, everyone is staring, please…."
She seemed on the verge of tears, and as I glanced about I noticed that there was indeed dead silence in the room, even the few professors that were present were observing the scene with hesitance.
"Rosalind" called Arielle and I decided that they weren't worth the trouble.
"Count yourself lucky brat" I hissed, making my jab as painful as possible and making Clo flinch "the next time you address me in such a manner, nothing in this world will save you!"
I jabbed her once more, pure rage in my mind and spun on my heel, stalking out of the Great Hall, glaring at everyone and anyone that dared make eye contact with me. I slammed the doors shut behind me, on the verge of hexing anything that moves.
To say that I was angry that night, would have been the understatement of the century. Now, since members of my house took pride in their self-preservation skills, they made the wise choice of staying as far away from me as physically possible.
Once again, Blaise Zabini showed that he had no such wisdom, or wisdom of any kind for that matter. Therefore, he thought it would be a wise idea to plop down of all places, on my couch, sitting so close to me that our knees were touching.
I was rather proud of myself at that moment, for I had not hexed him the second I saw his obnoxious overly large head.
"You have exactly three seconds before I start throwing curses" I spoke, taking out my wand and casually resting it on my left hand, so that it was aimed at his heart.
He blatantly ignored my warning and grinned at me, flashing what he supposed to be, a charming smile. The only thing that it did, was lower his time to run to two seconds.
"But I really like your couch" spoke he, wriggling on his place slightly, purposely rubbing his knee against mine.
I snapped my head to the side, hissing out "Affligo!"
The hex was a clear hit, the boy's head turning to the side. There was a spot on his jaw that became red, as if he had suffered a hit, and I expected that he would be angry, that he would finally leave me alone. But he turned to me, smiling of all things.
This only confirmed it, the boy was completely mental!
"Better now?" grinned he, and I narrowed my eyes at him, for some reason even more angry at him. Who in Merlin's most potent hex did he think he was? What gave him the right to meddle in my affairs?
"Mind your own business Zabini!" I snapped at him, preparing to cast another hex.
"It's not healthy you know." Spoke he, completely ignoring me, his eyes turning serious, the smile he had on his lips vanishing.
"What?" I snapped at him.
"Keeping all that anger in. It will kill you Rose." Spoke he, and I noticed his hand twitching. If he dared reach for his wand, I'd hex him to the next century.
"What's it to you Zabini?" I hissed, annoyed that he was pretending to care.
"I worry about you Rose" spoke he, repeating a new nickname. Honestly, why he was still breathing was beyond me.
"Well then, shall I take out my anger on you?" I hissed, turning so that my wand was in his side.
He seemed to completely ignore it, as if it didn't bother him at all, as if I wouldn't hex him. Idiot.
"If it would help you, I'd volunteer." Spoke he, his eyes suddenly returning to their normal, annoyingly flirtatious note "But I know of a way you could get rid of all that extra energy Rosey!"
"Madidus!" I hissed, summoning a wave of water and drenching the stupid boy to the bone.
"Cool down Zabini!" I hissed, and got to my feet, and as the stupid boy made to follow me I hissed "Gelesco!", gluing his feet to the ground.
I spun on my heel, marching to my dormitory, followed by the annoying laughter of said drenched moron. He was right in one thing, I was feeling slightly better after hexing him.